To mark the 110^th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme which began on 1^st July 1916 we pay tribute to all Old Haileyburians who lost their lives or were injured during these four months of torrid warfare. The first day of the battle was the single deadliest day in the history of the British Army, with the British and Empire forces suffering 57,470 casualties, with 19,240 men killed.

One of those who fell on 1^st July was OH Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Addison (Th 1880), aged 49, of the 9^th Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment, which was part of the 70^th Infantry Brigade fighting against the German Nordwerk system between Thiepval and Ovillers. The 9^th went over the top in the second wave of action but following an intense artillery barrage 23 officers and 517 men lost their lives. Arthur’s body was not found until 22^nd September when the battlefield was searched and his diary found on his body provided evidence that he survived in no man’s land for two or three days.

Arthur’s story is recorded in the history of the 9^th Battalion written in 1934 by J B Montague which also describes his burial with due honour at Becourt Wood and the words ‘Upon his body was found his pocketbook and in it he had written ‘Tell the Regiment I hope they did well.’ Officers who served with Arthur said he had been entirely devoted to his Regiment since its formation and he was a fine example of spirit de corps for us all to remember and to live up to.’

The photograph shows Arthur (on the left) with his second in command Major Harry Lewis who was killed in action on 1^st July, aged 54. The photograph is from a collection taken in March 1916 at Vignacourt, a village between Abbeville and Amiens, where local farmer Louis Thuillier set up a studio on his farm and photographed thousands of troops passing through. These glass plates lay hidden in an attic for over 100 years and are now on display at the farm. The story of the two officers is also told in a remarkable book called Lost Tommies by Ross Coulthart. Lieutenant Philip Brocklesbury described Arthur as ‘a responsible soldier, with right principles.’

Arthur had two older brothers at Haileybury – Thomas Edward Kerr Addison (L 1865) and Major Alexander Dupre Addison (L 1865), two years younger than Thomas. Their father was General Thomas Addison CB, a distinguished career soldier who had several children. Alexander’s son George Lancelot Addison (Ha 1904) and his son Joseph Anthony Addison (Ha 1941) were also Haileyburians.

With thanks to Dr Sam Koon, Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of Classics, at Haileybury for sharing an article from The Western Front Association with us.